mikejm

Suggesting that a one-game suspension is appropriate consequence is not being un-supportive of the players involved.

(Ducking to avoid inevitable barrage of thrown objects and invictives) I find myself agreeing somewhat with Bucky on this. There were many, many posters here jumping up on their soapboxes blasting the Gophers program and tDon for sweeping the whole Blarneys deal under the rug. And now when three of "our own" are in a bit of trouble some of the same people are pooh-poohing any sugestion of suspension for the players involved. No, this incident is not the same as the Blarneys situation. Nonetheless, three very public figures in Grand Forks have been (apparently) cited for offenses and there ought to be consequences. "We" tend to think of our beloved Fighting Sioux program as morally and ethically on higher ground than many of our rivals; please don't be hyprocrites and try to split hairs in this instance. You only add fuel to the Skippys of the world. And before anyone labels me a traitor, keep in mind that I've been a bleed-green UND hockey fan for longer than many of you have been alive!

This is an opportunity for UND and the hockey program to prove something. If the story is true JT and TJ (and Bina) need to be punished and the incident NOT swept under the rug the way many other schools might tend to attempt. I hate to say it, but the boys should sit a game or two and the team pay the consequences. Any less puts the Fighting Sioux in the cesspool with too many other athletic programs.

I hope you won't have any lasting effects!

I'm all for Tom Buning leading the cheers at any game...home or away. He's brought a much-needed breath of fresh air to the University.

Ahem.... 'bout that Bina goal on Youtube...

A quick question: who is the stud who was wearing Finley's number last night? That was a really good effort by someone who's been maligned most of the season.

I have heard personally from a source very, very high up in the AD's office that hockey is not even on the radar screen at SU.

I am not able to "mark as read" anymore. Otherwise, nice upgrade.

This actually might go a long way toward jump-starting the Sioux.

Thanks for the reminder Yttrium.

Two problems: goaltending (primary) and scoring from our top players (secondary) I've sat in the same seats behind our goalie since The Ralph opened, and have developed friendships with many of the folks who sit in the same section. Friday before the game I asked several "section mates" when was the last time they felt comfortable with the Sioux goaltending situation. Every single one said "not since before the new building opened". This is from people who have an up close and personal view of UND's goaltender two periods every game. This is from people who cheer great saves and have been very supportive of every netminder who's skated into the crease in front of us. Even when JPar was playing at his best, I've never felt the presence of a real "shut down" goalie wearing the Fighting Sioux sweater. And if the fans feel this, surely the skaters on the team feel this. The defense is not going to be at its best if they lack confidence in the goalie's ability to make the big save. They're going to play tentatively and not pinch (to try to create offensive opportunities). They're going to spend a lot of time facing the net trying to bail out the goalie when they should be knocking people on their a**es in the slot, or looking up ice to start a rush. Similarly, our forwards are being called upon to do an awful lot of back checking, to cover for the D having to play so deep in their own zone. As a consequence, the odd-man rushes are limited, and the general "mood" of our offensive play has suffered. In short, a team cannot play aggressive offense if five skaters are having to collapse into a defensive shell around suspect goaltending. I didn't intend to demean Lammy, but I am not a fan. He is too quick to flop to the ice and leaves the top half of the goal open far too often. As to scoring (or lack thereof) from our "stars", I think Toews and Oshie are being called upon too much to play defense; in addition the extra attention they are receiving from opposing teams is curtailing their scoring. PLUS, I see another iteration of a team that never met a pass it didn't love. The whole team needs to shoot more and quit trying to set up that tac-tac-toe ESPN highlight film opportunity. This post is way longer than it should be. But I'll close with one question: The Fighting Sioux have recruited world-class skaters for years. The program's history, the coaching staff, The Ralph all have a great deal to do with that success. But why oh why can this team not recruit a world-class, shut down goalie?

Nice thing about this thread: no one's bashing Brian Lee!

I can state from experience that this is NOT a low-cost option. Keeping THETRIOUXPER's beer glass would deplete the budgets of several sub-Saharan nations.

He grew into that. But there were many, many times Jordan was the object of scorn here, especially during his freshman and sophmore years. Heck, until the stretch runs in the last two seasons, people were on the ledge over the goalie "situation". I don't disagree that Parise was good, maybe great. All I'm saying is that this discussion is not new (only the names are changed from year to year).

Fixed your post.

Talk of UND's goalie "situation" has been almost constant on this board and elsewhere, since Karl graduated. I've found myself several times feeling less than confident at a Fighting Sioux goaltender's abilities to shut down an opponent. And I recall looking at other WCHA teams' rosters with a certain degree of jealousy at their ability to recruit, sign and develop top-flight talent in the net. And yet look at where this team has been, just since the new building opened. What, they've missed the NCAA playoffs once? They've been to the last two Frozen Fours? I'm not completely disagreeing with some of the thoughts herein supporting a major recruitment effort for a goalie, but I'm amazed at what UND has done with these "no-name", unheralded netminders.

I agree with THETRIOUXPER; our dmen spent an awful lot of time Friday facing their own goal, leaving the slot wide open for U-18s to swoop in for quality shots and/or rebounds. Time to start playing up to their abilities and potential. BTW: I watched the U-18s Saturday @ FM Jets and spent quite a bit of time chatting with a handful of NHL scouts who were in attendance. The consensus seems that two of the teenagers, #21 James vanRiemsdyk (assisted on the first goal), and #8 Kevin Shattenkirk (who assisted the first USA goal and tied the game with the goal late in the third), will be first-round picks in the next NHL draft. The Blackhawks' scout I spoke with is quite happy with Chris Porter's play this year; he also said Jon Toews has the skills and the brains to be an NHL superstar.

Ben Blood D Shattuck Midget AAA 21g 7-7-14 72PIMs Brett Hextall RC Penticton Panthers BCHL 29g 10-13-23 108PIMs Brad Malone RW Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 17g 4-6-10 +4 55PIMs Seems these "B"s are of the Killer variety.

I can state with certainty that Triouxper is not peddling glue; he always hits mine!

^SHF, you obviously have absolutely no ability to look at the situation as it exists today and discern the truth. This is a team that is on the skids; a one-way elevator downward; in a death spiral; augering in. Get your head out of the clouds and start seeing things as they truly are. It's over. (now, where's that sarcasm smilie?)

Sorry to be late to this party. I never post in the football threads, but there are some things that need to be said: 1. I think NDSU would beat the living daylights out of the Sioux this year. I went to my first SU FB game in decades Saturday and was blown away by their size and speed. Coach Bohl and his staff have done a great job recruiting and the strength program is obviously paying dividends. I was amazed at SU's physical presence. 2. It is too bad that the Bison can't be included in the D-IAA playoffs, but they knew the rules before they started and the folks who are involved with the program and many of their fans are graciously accepting their fate. I don't know if they are truly the best team in the division (ask the Sioux hockey team how well their #3 ranking turned out in Anchorage last weekend. Ouch!), but they're obviously a good

Are you serving Twinkies for Thanksgiving?

There are times in one's life when the only true measure of wealth is the numbering of one's friends. This, apparently, is not one of those times. Oh, and THETRIOUXPER, I don't have a jealous bone in my body.

Um, okay. Friday? You know where.